Delphian's 2012 Academic All-Star, Serene Pal, published in Salem's Statesman Journal.

Anyone or anything dealing with space exploration has always enraptured me.

For me, Neil Armstrong epitomizes a lot of things that I would like to achieve in my life.

Many people look at him as being the first man on the moon, and while that is true, looking into his life gives an idea of everything else that he accomplished. He inspires me to be a leader, because he was a very competent man who was able to work his way up the ladder.

This approach is similar to the path I intend to take to achieve anything. At fifteen, he had already received his flying license, and he was on the road to becoming an Eagle Scout. He had many extracurricular activities, which made him a well rounded person.

This is something that I like to incorporate into my daily schedule, as being able in a wide spectrum of activities lets you extrovert and explore other areas.

After he attended university, he jump-started his career with many different aviation projects and challenges. At that time, the Apollo space program was starting up, and his application to be one of the few lucky people to be admitted to space was accepted.

Armstrong was a man who exhibited courage, determinism, intellect as well as leadership. Neil Armstrong

His status as a household name is well-deserved, and he is the man that sparked my interest in the space program.

About Delphian School

Perched in the foothills of Oregon's coastal range overlooking the lush Willamette valley, Delphian School's 800 acres of rolling hills, meadows, forest and farmlands provide an excellent resource for learning and recreation.

Within a close-knit community and lively campus environment, Delphian students study on individual academic programs tailored to their interests as well as their personal academic strengths and weaknesses.

In a system that encourages free and open inquiry, students proceed at their own pace through a challenging curriculum that focuses on demonstrated understanding and application of the data learned, rather than memorization for tests or time spent in class.

Understanding and ability to apply the subject matter is forged via real-life applications, such as participation in the school’s Student Services program; leadership positions in the very active and vital Student Council; group and individual projects within the school community of wide variety and scope; community outreach projects; apprenticeships with local professionals; and a range of enrichment activities in the performing and visual arts, athletics, and similar activities accessible to all students. In these ways the four points of the Delphian logo—knowledge, ethics, integrity and leadership—develop into an integrated whole.

Delphian students begin living their education from the moment they walk into the school. They study on individual academic programs built upon a core curriculum with additional courses tailored to their strengths and weaknesses as well as their interests.

For more information or to schedule a visit, please visit the Delphian School's website here: http://www.delphian.org

Because of the individualized nature of the Delphian Program, students may complete the last Form in the program (Form 8) at any time during the school year. Below are our two most recent graduates (the final grads of 2011!)

The Delphian School Congratulates:

Bart Springer, Form 8 graduate, December 9th, 2011!!!!

Savana St. Aubin, Form 8 Graduate on December 12, 2011!!!

Congratulations to Gabe Marrazzo, our final graduate of 2011 on December 13th!!!

You can see from the photos above that when a student completes the Form 8 program, the entire school gathers to witness the announcement and hear the newest graduate speak. Families of the graduate often try to be in attendance as well.

While all the students are recognized as a group at Commencement in June, finishing Form 8 is a momentous and individualized event specifically held with the intent of giving each grad his or her moment in the spotlight and allowing them to share what their journey through the Delphi program was like for them.

Click here to request information about Delphian School or to schedule a visit.

More Good News - Educational Models Based on Proficiency, Personalization, and Individual Growth

Oregon State Superintendent of Schools Susan Castillo just sent out a report about recent state-wide test results.  In her cover letter she wrote, “Education in Oregon, and around the country, has changed dramatically in the past ten years. We are increasing expectations from elementary through high school to ensure all of our students graduate ready for college and career...We are implementing educational models based on proficiency, personalization, and individual growth.”

In my last blog, I discussed the new report calling for replacing seat time with competency.  It outlined state efforts and state plans to bring proficiency-based education into more public school systems and expand it where it exists.  It envisions “vibrant education system where all of our children experience the joys of learning.”

The article about the report is worthy of note.  “We are proposing what amounts to a vital change in current methods of instruction and measurement so that students can move ahead when they demonstrate knowledge,” said Susan Patrick, co-author of the report... “Unfortunately, many states and school districts are still handcuffed by rigid regulations that prevent them from moving toward the student-centered, performance-based approach.”

To repeat:

“Unfortunately, many states and school districts are still handcuffed by rigid regulations that prevent them from moving toward the student-centered, performance-based approach.”

Later from the article:

“Successful implementation of competency-based standards not only will help students have a positive experience with learning, but also will “increase [the nation's] productivity” by decreasing the dropout rate and closing the achievement gap, the report argues.

“With approximately $600 billion spent annually in the U.S. on K-12 education, why wouldn’t we want to create incentives for our schools so that every dollar going to fund education was based on students’ outcomes, performance, and growth in learning toward world-class expectations, rather than on seat time?” the authors ask. “What would it take to unleash innovation to allow practitioners, educators, and administrators to create competency-based pathways of learning for each student, regardless of where or how long they sit?” 

“As one participant in the ...forum expressed: “The problem  is quite simple—we are measuring the wrong end of the student, related to learning.”

Get it...(smile)   [If not, just keep re-reading it!]

 

Click here to learn more.

SCRAP'ing with the Elementary School

The Delphian Elementary School went on a very exciting field trip recently to SCRAP in Portland, Oregon. SCRAP stands for School Community Reuse Action Project. SCRAP was started by a group of school teachers who all had the same goal to inspire creative reuse and environmentally sustainable behavior by providing educational programs and affordable materials to the community.  SCRAP collects donations of things people don’t need anymore and classifies them so other people can find and buy them for their projects. The Delphian School students toured the entire SCRAP operation and even got to tour the warehouse. They were also able to buy recycled materials that they could then use to build or make new things.  Student Chloe Rodgers bought different kinds of fabric to make a shawl. The next day she came to school with her shawl made from only the recycled materials from SCRAP. She said, “I loved this trip so much and I can’t wait to go back to get more things for more projects!” Elementary School Supervisor Javier Montalvo said, “The students loved this trip to SCRAP because it got them thinking about how something new could be made by recycling something old and how that could greatly help the environment.” Article written by Upper School Student Ivana Montalvo Editor's Note: This article is part of a series researched and written by Delphian School students. Each student's educational program involves real-world application of what they learn in the classroom. Learn more about this aspect of the unique education offered at Delphian.

Encouraging Community

As Delphian encourages community participation from the entire student body, Delphian Scholl students participate a Community Service Day twice a year - once in the fall and once in the spring. This is a day when the entie school reaches out into the local community to help others and give back to their surroundings.

For this term's service day, participating Upper school students were divided into seven groups. Each group went to one of several selected volunteer areas: Natural Connections, St. Vincent de Paul donations center, Dear Meadow Retirement Community, the Sheridan Public Library, West Hills Center, McMinnville Public Library, Habitat for Humanity, and the Gospel Mission Shelter.

“Students take more responsibility for their community and natural environment after they participate in the Community Service day," said Zachary Prescod, the student who was in charge of organizing and coordinating this activity. "By participating in Delphian School's Community Service day, students can spend their time doing something meaningful for others. It’s really our pleasure to support our local community.”

Editor's Note: This article is part of a series researched and written by Delphian School students. Each student's educational program involves real-world application of what they learn in the classroom. Learn more about this aspect of the unique education offered at Delphian.

 

Click here to learn more.

Art & Education

This year finds me once again here at Delphian School, but this time on Form 7. That's approximately equivalent to 11th grade, except we don't have grades here—we have Forms, of which there are only eight (Form 6 through Form 8 are in the Upper School), because you do so much more in a Form than you could in a grade.

In my opinion a grade is just another step in building our academic requirements so that we can hurry up and get out of high school. A Form is much more challenging. You gain practical abilities, leadership and communication skills in addition to academic knowledge. I've said before that I've always felt I was mature, but I've matured the most and become much more intellectual in my three years at Delphian. Each Form (especially the Upper School Forms 6, 7 and 8) is in a sense its own journey.

For a long time I've held Form 7 in a very high regard, although I know that Form 8 is amazing, too. I've wanted to be on Form 7 for a while and now I am! I'm on the first course, which is actually a course called Education, and I actually think it's the most interesting thing I've ever studied—or at least it's pretty up there. The course tells you about the history and philosophy of education, how it came to be practiced the way it is today, and it helps you sort out how you should really treat children and teach them: as self-determined individuals.

Also, I'm studying guitar, yoga and art in the afternoons and those are all very fun. I feel I'm really improving in these areas. And of course, how could I forget? Art Seminar. By far my absolute favorite engagement in all of my Delphian history. Last week I actually woke up every morning thinking that day was Wednesday (which is when Art Seminar is held) and then I had to remind myself that it was only Monday or Tuesday. If you've read some other things I've written, you already know that I'm an art fanatic. But in Art Seminar we don't learn technique or talk history or study anything in particular actually. We talk about things like: "what is art really?" and we learn how much we really can create and do. Our abilities are endless. I don't just learn about art in Art Seminar; I learn about life.

 

Best,

Rae

 

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Varsity Choir at George Fox Choir Symposium

The Delphian School Varsity Choir participated in the George Fox University Fall Choir Symposium last Saturday.  Four choirs participated in the morning session and four in the afternoon.  Delphian was in the morning session and did a warm up together with all the other groups. Then the students went into a sight reading session with Steve Peter, a highly regarded Portland High School choir director.  Mr. Peter went over the choir's knowledge of certain concepts, and then had them do some drilling with a focus on getting better at conceptualizing the music in their heads before they read it.  

 Then back to the auditorium where the students worked personally with GFU director, Loren Wenz. He worked with the choir on team building in their sections.  Each section then worked out goals for themselves and for the choir.  This was followed by a fun game where the choir arranged themselves by birthday order—without being able to talk.

 The highlight of the day was Delphian’s performance followed by a clinic by Dr. Rodney Eichenberger.  Dr. Eichenberger, who resides in Florida but has ties to the Northwest, is an international figure in choral music.  Often considered a "choir guru," he spent over 50 years researching and demonstrating the relationship of the conductor's gesture to choral sound, and he worked with Delphian Choir Director Craig Bader and the choir in better understanding that relationship.  Craig and the students had a great time working with him.  The choir also had the benefit of another classroom lesson where the choir was coached on vocal technique by a member of the George Fox faculty.  The students asked questions and then practiced the ideas presented as answers to those questions.  The session closed with a very nice concert by the George Fox Concert Choir. 

 

Click here to learn more.